 | THE MUSLIM SPAIN (CORDOBA A SOPHISTICATED CITY) ISLAM IN SPAIN: CORDOBA A CITY OF LIGHTS By the time 'Abd al-Rahman reached Spain, the Arabs from North Africa were already entrenched on the Iberian Peninsula and had begun to write one of the most glorious chapters in Islamic history. After their forays into France were blunted by Charles Martel, the Muslims in Spain had begun to focus their whole attention on what they called al-Andalus, southern Spain (Andalusia), and to build there a civilization far superior to anything Spain had ever known. Reigning with wisdom and justice, they treated Christians and Jews with tolerance, with the result that many embraced Islam. They also improved trade and agriculture, patronized the arts, made valuable contributions to science, and established Cordoba as the most sophisticated city in Europe. By the tenth century, Cordoba could boast of a population of some 500,000, compared to about 38,000 in Paris. According to the chronicles of the day, the city had 700 mosques, some 60,000 palaces, and 70 libraries - one reportedly housing 500,000 manuscripts and employing a staff of researchers, illuminators, and book binders. Cordoba also had some 900 public baths, Europe's first street lights and, five miles outside the city, the caliphal residence, Madinat al-Zahra. A complex of marble, stucco, ivory, and onyx, Madinat al-Zahra took forty years to build, cost close to one-third of Cordoba's revenue, and was, until destroyed in the eleventh century, one of the wonders of the age. Its restoration, begun in the early years of this century, is still under way. |
 | Global Treasures MADINAT AL-ZAHARA Mahdinat Al-Zahra Medina GTR-DVD-1163 - A few kilometres outside the city of Córdoba in southern Spain lie the remains of a once legendary Moorish palace district, the Mahdinat Al-Zahra. It is believed that in around 936 A.D. the Moorish monarch, Abd Ar-Rahman The Third, ordered the construction of the huge residence. Work on the palace, the administrative sections and the gardens took more than forty years to complete. Over ten thousand workmen were involved in its construction but today little of the former splendour of this 'Andalusian Versailles' is apparent as only the mighty ruins of the former terraced palace have survived to the present day. Thanks to the intensive restoration and reconstruction work of recent years the buildings of the former Reception Hall provide a fascinating insight into the royal court of the Moors. The Salón of Abd Ar-Rahman The Third shines out once again in all of its ancient and glorious splendour. Soon after its completion the Mahdinat Al-Zahra was described as a 'wonder of the western hemisphere', a fairy-tale-like synthesis of the arts located upon the picturesque southern slopes of the Sierra Morena. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments. |
 | Madinat Al-Zahra Throne Room This is the throne room at Madinat Al-Zahra. |
 | Madinat Al-Zahra Looking around from the top of Madinat Al-Zahra in Cordoba. Extra bonus points if you can spot Grace in the video |
 | NAFRA ensemble in Germany NAFRA is a major international exponent of Malta's music heritage. The innovative compositions of Ruben Zahra project folk music on a contemporary platform featuring the authentic sounds of Maltese traditional instruments. The music of NAFRA explores the sounds of a culture which is uniquely interesting in view of Malta's position as a 'cultural crossroad' of the Mediterranean. NAFRA is very popular on the local cultural platform and has been invited to perform in major events in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong and Tunisia. For more information logon to www.rubenzahra.com |
 | sxp sxp lk at sabah, zahra n humza bungey jumpin in spain! |
 | Walla zaman ya selahi [Egypt anthem 1960-1979] والله زمان ياسلاحى والنشيد من تاليف صلاح جاهين وتلحين كمال الطويل وغناء ام كلثوم وكان عبارة عن اغنية حماسيه شاعت فى عام 1956 وقت العدوان الثلاثى على مصر وقد تم اعتماده واستبداله بالسلام الملكى المصرى عام 1960 (تاريخ الوحدة المصرية السورية )وظل مستخدما حتى عام 1979 والمقطع الذى تم اعتماده كسلاما وطنيا مصريا تقول كلمات و الله زمان يا سلاحى اشتقت لك فى كفاحى انطق و قول أنا صاحى يا حــرب و الله زمان و الله زمان ع الجنود زاحفة بترعد رعود حالفة تروح لم تعود الا بنصر الزمان ومن الطريف ان السلام الجمهور المصرى ( والله زمان ياسلاحى ) قد استخدم كسلاما وطنيا لدولة العراق فى الفترة من 1965 حتى 1981 Presented here is the national anthem of Egypt juring the era of the Late presedent Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser who ruled from 1954-1970 [though effectively ruling Egypt since 1952].The date of the adoption of this anthem is controversial although widely beleived to be in 1960.It remained in place until it was substituted by the current anthem [beladi beladi] in 1979 . The presented photos are as follows 1. Nasser with Mohamed Naguib,the first appointed presedent of Egypt 2. Nasser 3. President Nasser with Sheikh Shaltot in 1961 4. President Nasser with Nixon in Cairo in 1963 5. Nasser with Nikita Khrushchev in a private train from Cairo to Alexandria 6. Nasser and Khrushchev in May 1964 7. President Nasser with members of the Algerian resistance Gamilla Bohriad and Zahra Bozraif in Cairo in 1962 8.Nasser with former Algerian presedent [Ahmed Ben Bella] 9. Nasser with General Francisco Franco of Spain 10. Nasser and Sadat 11. Nasser with both king Faysal of Saudi Arabia and Yasser Arafat of PLO. Many photos were adopted from http://www.sis.gov.eg/VR/nasser/html/index.htm |
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